On Mondays, I collect our garbage into plastic bags and place them in the provided receptacle (recycles go into a separate container) to be collected early on Tuesday mornings.

When we started this schedule years ago, Mondays became a special day for me. It represented more than uncluttering the house of waste, but a means for me to observe this day in more significant ways.

It follows the Lord’s Day by which we began a new week, receiving His Word and worshipping with His people; spending the day with Him in prayer and meditation. It is reasonable then to go into the new week by putting into practice what we learned and experienced the day before. As we are spending the remainder of this year in the thirteenth chapter of Hebrews, we are continuing to carry the blessings that are ours through every phase of life, especially the difficult times.

Yesterday’s message was centered on how and why, “by Christ, we offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15

From the message each week, we move to the Lord’s Supper, reminded that we come to the Table of our Lord to renew all that we have in Christ. This was the prompting to share why I love Mondays. While remembering that we come down from the mountaintop of praise to the lowest place to start over in the valley with our Lord, from which we gather more praises for the next Lord’s Day.

I can only imagine what it must be like for ministers who have to start each week to bring the congregation together in the Spirit to the next Lord’s worship and His Word. I, like them, have to come personally to our Lord and Savior, to seek His guidance through the week; to pray and encourage others during the week, so that we come together of one mind and one spirit on the Lord’s Day. Worship leaders cannot do this. It is not a one-day-a-week experience.

I start the workday with a Moderator, the Spirit of Christ, who leads and challenges each day in prayer and His Word.

Each Monday is a day for Mobilization, Modification, and Mortification.

Mobilization
As I prepare and collect the physical waste during the day, I consider that I am always moving by the leading of His Word and Spirit, to empty the garbage of my thinking, speaking, and living.

Modification
I am continually reminded of the physical things that are no longer needed, so I gather them in a separate place for donation. Modification for my mind and heart means changing my thoughts and desires to what the Lord wants for me. As His people, His children, His family, we continue to move Onward and Upward to our new home with Him, so we gladly give up the things we don’t need, physically and spiritually. Over the years the Spirit of truth has removed former beliefs that were not true, displacing them with the truth of His Word. Working on the project Words of Life is helping tremendously with this endeavor ~ changing our vocabulary changes our lives.

Mortification is the process of seeing the sins that remain hidden, but week by week, His Word and Spirit uncover.
We see ~
We agree ~
We mortify the deeds of the flesh as He reveals them by His Word and His Spirit.

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” Colossians 3:5

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:13

Gracious Father, thank you for opening heaven to us through your Word by the power of your Holy Spirit so that the things of this world no longer hold our interest. Enable us to move forward, to modify our thoughts and lives, and to mortify the deeds of the flesh as you reveal them. So emblazon upon our minds and hearts the life and humility of Christ that we desire Him more and more to increase and that we decrease. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Fran
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds by John Newton, composer of Amazing Grace

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